TMZ Sports

Is Matthew Stafford a Hall of Famer?? If you ask his favorite target in Detroit, Calvin Johnson, we will absolutely see the quarterback in Canton one day ... but he tells TMZ Sports an MVP trophy on his résumé solidifies his chances.

We spoke with Johnson amid one of Stafford's best seasons ... and he said the game "looks easy to him right now."

"He's playing good football. He has some great receivers around him. Seems like the offensive line is doing a great job as well."

Shaquil Barrett isn't reconsidering his decision to retire ... telling TMZ Sports he's done with football -- and NFL teams don't need to waste their time trying to change his mind.

The two-time Super Bowl champ made it clear this week after announcing his decision ... even though he worked out with the Indianapolis Colts just over a month ago.

"I'm not really chasing the NFL dream anymore, so I'm not just gonna be out there doin' NFL workouts every day to stay ready because I'm not that hungry for it anymore," Barrett said.

Cops investigating the break-in at former Lakers player Christian Wood's rental home believe the intruders used a pizza delivery method to see if anyone was home before making a move ... this according to a search warrant obtained by TMZ Sports.

According to the search warrant, a Domino's pizza delivery driver walked up to the residence -- an Airbnb in Sherman Oaks -- at around 12:30 PM on November 5 ... the day of the break-in.

Cops say Wood, who was home at the time, did not answer ... as he was not expecting a pie to be dropped off on his doorstep.

The boxing world says Anthony Joshua must not simply leave the ring with a win on the judges' scorecards -- he must also DEMOLISH Jake Paul -- and AJ actually agrees, telling TMZ Sports he sees it the same way!

36-year-old Joshua, former two-time unified heavyweight champion, chopped it up with Babcock on Saturday, less than two weeks before the highly anticipated December 19, where the guys discussed training, the enormous payday, potential retirement, and whether he must KO Paul.

"I really understand where they're coming from. I understand. I get it," AJ said, addressing the idea he must walk away with a knockout.

"I know the expectations and demands these fans have. And I respect it. If I didn’t respect it, I’d be honest with you and say, 'No they’re talking rubbish,' but I do. I do get it because I hold myself in that same regard, so I need to [KO Jake] and that’s my intention, to seek and destroy!"

And it seems that's just about what everyone expects to happen in downtown Miami next Friday night ... except for 28-year-old Paul, who says he's going to shock the world.

We asked Joshua if he thinks Paul believes he's actually going to win, or if it's just all false bravado.

"I do think he believes [he's going to beat me]," AJ said, which is why he says he's "not preparing for the person everyone thinks he is," but rather "preparing for the person he thinks he is."

50 million or more people globally could watch the fight on Netflix, and with that comes a big ass bag ... so we asked Anthony if this would be the biggest payday of his career.

Somewhat surprisingly, he said no.

"Unfortunately, it's not."

We also asked AJ about the reported clause in the Paul-Joshua contract that states he must not weigh over 245 lbs. for weigh-ins, about 6-7 lbs. lighter than he has recently fought.

"On fight night, I may come in a couple of pounds heavier," Anthony said, "but if I’m honest with you, I really do like this weight. It’s actually been a blessing in disguise that this task was put upon me because I feel good."

Joshua went on to explain he's feeling quicker, while still maintaining his devastating punching power.

AJ also addressed the idea that there's a clause in his contract dictating he must go easy on Jake ... something he says is flat out untrue.

Anthony has obviously accomplished everything a boxer could ever dream of, and although it might not be the fattest check of his life, Jake comes with a lucrative payday ... so, could this be the last time we ever see him in the squared circle?

Alix Earle is dancing her way into her single era ... 'cause she and her boyfriend, Houston Texans player Braxton Berrios, have reportedly split.

She and the NFL star called it quits after nearly 2 years together, Us Weekly and People report, citing multiple sources.

The pair gave their relationship a good go, but the long-distance nature of their relationship drove them apart, Us Weekly claims. People, meanwhile, reports the breakup was mutual.

Luka Doncic is a girl dad of 2! The Los Angeles Lakers star announced the arrival of his baby girl, Olivia, Saturday morning.

Check out his latest IG post -- he shared an adorable photo of the newborn dressed in a pink top and rose-printed pants lying on pink and white blankets. The exciting announcement comes after he missed his last 2 games with the Lakers ... and now it's clear he had a very good reason.

Luka welcomed his first daughter with his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, in December 2023 ... meaning the sisters have birthdays just days apart. He shared the news of his first newborn with a precious snapshot of her parents holding her tiny hands. He revealed her name was Gabriela in the caption.

He was with the Dallas Mavericks at the time, and missed his first game of the season for his little one's arrival.

Luka and Anamaria have an adorable love story -- they met as kids in Croatia and began dating in 2016. He got down on one knee in a picturesque proposal in Slovenia in July 2023 ... and they began growing their family months after.

Blueface's features may have taken on a purple glow after he let Ryan Garcia punch him ... because he was having some trouble breathing in a wild new vid.

The boxer livestreamed his hang with the rapper Friday night ... and, just 15 minutes into the stream, the duo engaged in an age-old guy tradition -- one dude punching another as hard as possible.

Blueface asked if Garcia wanted to throw a haymaker at him ... and Garcia accepted -- though BF wore protective gear over his stomach to lessen the blow.

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has reportedly died.

Annett's death was announced by his former team, JR Motorsports, on Friday. He drove for them between 2017 and 2021, when he retired. NASCAR.com also confirmed the sad news.

It is not clear how he died, but his fellow former NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said on X he's "glad he is no longer suffering."

JaMarcus Russell knows a thing or two about Lane Kiffin and LSU football, and the former number one overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft is pumped to see what the polarizing head coach has in store for his alma mater!

TMZ Sports chatted it up with Russell and Dwayne Bowe -- former star teammates at LSU -- about their school's hiring of Kiffin, and both are pumped to see how he makes his mark on one of the country's top programs.

Russell, in particular has a unique view of the 50-year-old ... since Lane was his head coach in Oakland with the Raiders until Al Davis fired him four games into the 2008 season.

Lamont Roach is totally unbothered by rival Gervonta Davis ... the boxing star tells us he's completely focused on putting Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz's lights out, and doing it quickly!

"Nobody wants to be in there for a long time, so hopefully I catch him with one that's gonna make him go to sleep. If not, I'll just beat him up for 12 rounds straight," 30-year-old Roach (25-1-2), told TMZ Sports ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated bout.

27-year-old Cruz (28-3-1) is no walk in the park, and Roach knows it.

Klay Thompson might be having a slow start to his season, but it's by no means due to his love life -- so says Isaiah Thomas, who tells TMZ Sports the outside noise means nothing to a Hall of Famer like the Mavericks hooper.

Klay's averaging just 11 points on 37% shooting so far in his second season in Dallas ... career lows in both categories.

Some folks think the slump could be due to his high-profile relationship with Megan Thee Stallion (we're looking at you, Jason Williams) ... but I.T. says there's simply no way.

Merab Dvalishvili began his UFC career with two consecutive losses before winning an astounding 14 straight fights (and counting), putting him among the very best MMA fighters ever ... a fairy tale The Machine describes as the "American Dream."

"This is unbelievable," Dvalishvili told TMZ Sports ahead of his UFC 323 main event fight against Petr Yan.

"I am the American Dream. Now, when I see other Georgians also willing to come here to America, they think they can do like I do, but it's very hard. It's not only hard work, you have to get lucky, too, and I'm lucky. I'm lucky."

The Austin Police Department has closed the book on Brianna Aguilera's death, ruling it a suicide ... but the family still doesn't believe law enforcement.

Tony Buzbee, the attorney for Aguilera's family, tells TMZ they still think Brianna's death was more nefarious ... adding, "The Austin Police screwed things up royally."

Buzbee says there's no credible evidence to back APD's suicide claim, full stop.

Dillon Danis claims he's still feeling it after his brawl at UFC 322 ... to the point where he won't be able to attend his deposition in his Nina Agdal case next week.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, the MMA fighter says he is currently in California "seeking medical treatment" for a head injury he sustained at MSG after throwing hands with several members of Islam Makhachev's team on Nov. 15.

As a result, the fighter's lawyer says Danis won't be around to get grilled by Agdal's lawyers next Tuesday in New Jersey.

The brawl prompted New York City Mayor Eric Adams to call for an investigation, saying the actions were unacceptable.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2 PM PT.

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